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After four years away from the NHL, Karri Ramo expected some differences.

The Calgary Flames netminder knew there would be the obvious adjustments upon returning to the league, such as the smaller ice surface compared to what's used in Europe.

But he's been more surprised by a change in style of play.

"There's a lot more passing than shooting, at least in what I've seen compared to when I was in Tampa," said Ramo, who played parts of three seasons for the Tampa Bay Lightning through 2008-09. "A powerplay now, there's barely shots. It's the KHL style. Teams are trying to get nice goals.

"When we played against the (New York) Islanders (in Tuesday's pre-season tilt in Regina) and they had those powerplays, I was expecting the defencemen to shoot more and the guys on the half-wall to shoot more. There's more holding onto the puck and trying to find the back-door plays. It's getting more European style. Maybe when the season starts, it'll change."

Ramo, who spent four seasons in the KHL and is pencilled in to be the Flames starting goaltender, knew it would take some time to get back in the swing.

The NHL added a couple of degrees of difficulty by changing the allowable height of leg pads and shrinking the size of the nets -- not the area from the front, but the size of the base to increase more space behind the cages.

Ramo says he had one inch chopped off his pads, so the difference is minor.

"I think it's in my favour -- it helps me move around," Ramo said after Saturday's practice at WinSport's Markin MacPhail Centre. "I didn't feel a difference. I tried some different pads, and they were too stiff, and I changed back to my old pads from last year's gear. We got them to pass the testing, and it feels good."

Joey MacDonald, the likely No. 2 for the Flames, is in the same boat.

"I use smaller pads anyway, so when I jumped in, it didn't matter," MacDonald said. "I heard some guys lost three or three-and-a-half inches off each pad. That's seven inches more on the five-hole.

"For some guys, it's going to be a huge difference."

As for the nets, the obvious impact would be more wrapround opportunities, but that's just one aspect with which the goalies have had to deal.

Both Flames netminders say they haven't yet faced more wraparound attempts -- "I guess when the players notice it, it will happen," Ramo said -- but have been dealing with players able to make easier passes from behind the net to the slot and point-shots purposely fired wide of the net so the puck will bounce out front of the cage.

"It complicates things for goalies a little more, especially if you're an aggressive goalie who plays outside your crease. You have to bust your butt to get back in net quicker," said MacDonald, who pointed out the new boards at the Saddledome have more bounce than last season. "It's going to expose some of those guys who would just push out and block the shot. If a puck gets by you, you have to push back into the net."

Even with three goalies still in camp, it's likely Ramo will get another start over the final two pre-season games, either Monday versus the New York Rangers or Wednesday against the Phoenix Coyotes. Both are 7 p.m. starts at the Dome.

After a rough debut just over a week ago in Edmonton, he had a very strong outing against the Islanders.

But Ramo isn't ready to say he's fully found his form.

"It's still really early and still pre-season games. The teams are trying lineups, and players are trying to find their best playing shape, so it's a bit of a struggle. But you can't read too much into these games," Ramo added. "You can't really draw any conclusions out of them -- just try to improve and get your game in shape, so when they start to matter, you're ready."

As Advertised in the Calgary SUN

Calgary Flames goalies shrug off recent equipment changes

After four years away from the NHL, Karri Ramo expected some differences.

The Calgary Flames netminder knew there would be the obvious adjustments upon returning to the league, such as the smaller ice surface compared to what's used in Europe.

But he's been more surprised by a change in style of play.

"There's a lot more passing than shooting, at least in what I've seen compared to when I was in Tampa," said Ramo, who played parts of three seasons for the Tampa Bay Lightning through 2008-09. "A powerplay now, there's barely shots. It's the KHL style. Teams are trying to get nice goals.

"When we played against the (New York) Islanders (in Tuesday's pre-season tilt in Regina) and they had those powerplays, I was expecting the defencemen to shoot more and the guys on the half-wall to shoot more. There's more holding onto the puck and trying to find the back-door plays. It's getting more European style. Maybe when the season starts, it'll change."